Abstract
The evolution of a beach nourishment project constructed in Long Branch, NJ was investigated using the method of empirical orthogonal functions (EOF). Most applications of EOFs on beach fill projects have focused on traditional linear fills on relatively long, straight, uninterrupted coastlines. The Long Branch project was somewhat unique in that it was designed as a feeder beach and was constructed within a groin field. EOFs were used to analyze shoreline positions and nearshore beach slopes at the site. The first three modes, determined from the shoreline position data set, explain more than ninety percent of the variation from the mean. Mode 1 and Mode 3 illustrate variations of the fill’s spreading as material moved in the direction of the net littoral drift, where several shore-perpendicular structures intercepted it. One of these structures was a large outfall pipe, which was shown to have a dominant influence over the shoreline evolution. The second mode was related to seasonal or storm impacts. The EOF analysis of the beach slope data also identified modes related to the spreading of the fill (Mode 2) and seasonal impacts (Mode 1). Overall, the eigenfunctions determined from both data sets reflect the morphological changes which were observed during the field surveys.
Highlights
In February 2009, a 700,000 cy, $9 million beach nourishment project was completed in LongBranch, New Jersey
While beach nourishment projects have been extensively studied, much of this research has focused on traditional linear fills located on relatively straight and uninterrupted coastlines
The beach fill template used at Long Branch was nontraditional in that it included a feeder beach design, and was constructed within an existing groin field
Summary
In February 2009, a 700,000 cy, $9 million beach nourishment project was completed in Long. This project was part of the New York District of the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Sandy Hook to Barnegat Inlet, Beach Erosion Control Project. While beach nourishment projects have been extensively studied, much of this research has focused on traditional linear fills located on relatively straight and uninterrupted coastlines. The beach fill template used at Long Branch was nontraditional in that it included a feeder beach design, and was constructed within an existing groin field. While the influence of groins and other shore-perpendicular structures on coastline evolution has been studied, the research has not focused on how they influence the spreading of a beachfill over time
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